The Utica College men's hockey team topped host Briancon 3-1 in Briancon, France Friday.  The contest was the Pioneers first of four games over the course of their nine day excursion in Southeastern France.  Senior Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) posted one goal and one assist for Utica, while Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) added two assists.

Jacob Gerson (Colorado Springs, CO/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) and Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) each added one goal as Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)), Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) and Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) each recorded one assist.

Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) earned the start between the pipes for Utica and stopped 20 shots in 20 minutes of work.  Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) made 16 saves in 20 minutes of second period action, while Henry Dill (Columbus, OH/UMASS (Hockey East)) came on in the third period and stopped eight shots (one goal against).

Utica is now 8-1 all-time in international play.

UC will tour Turino, Italy on Saturday before returning to the ice to take on Grenoble. 

Every three years the NCAA permits college teams to take part in an international exchange trip intended to expose the student-athletes to different cultures.